Implications for practice and research

Policy makers and nurse leaders making staffing decisions must take into account the evidence linking nurse staffing, skill
mix and patient outcomes.

Researchers must continue to investigate staffing models to determine the most cost-effective model that supports quality
care and take full advantage of the registered nurse workforce, especially given predicted shortages.

Context

This study explored the impact of skill mix model changes on patient outcomes in a critical care environment, specifically,
a respiratory care centre based in a southern Taiwan medical centre. It identified that the cost of ventilator-dependent patients
in Taiwan in 1999 was 3.5 billion New Taiwan dollars, equivalent to US$ 121 million. In this …